Austin Thomas, 29 from Flint was killed after being struck by a bucket loader at Shotton Paper Mill (UPM) on Monday. He formerly served in the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and toured Kosovo and Afghanistan.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of his death as crush injuries.

At the pre-hearing, Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, said she had been informed by the Health and Safety Executive, who conducted an investigation into the incident, that Mr Wright would not be prosecuted.

But Craig Morris, for the HSE, confirmed that both UPM and Downton had been notified that they would be facing charges under the Health and Safety Act, though they had not yet been summonsed.

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At the hearing, both companies, the HSE and Mr Wright were legally represented and some members of Mr Thomas’s family were also present.

Among the matters resolved prior were what documentation should be disclosed, including the driver training records, operators’ manual and logbooks.

Austin Thomas, 29 from Flint pictured with parents and sister Rachel

The inquest, which is expected to last five days, will be held with a jury and will take place before the criminal cases are heard.

Mrs Lees commented: “It seems to me it is going to be a case which the jury will find challenging.”

She said she was anxious for the full inquest to be held before the end of the year, but another pre-hearing will be held in July to resolve more of the issues including which witnesses will be called.